The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-01-21

&c which III II ueuICuIJ1s u t"S $50
act PASSED at the last session extending time Tor
paying taxes bo made applicable TO the present
wear. II ia not cert ain but that the statute OF
1885 should be made a permanent one; me
time for paving taxes under the general law Is
fixed ut a date which seems tnconVen-
lent, and when taxpayers, as a rule, are
least able TO meet the demands upon Them.
The governor recommend fixed salaries instead
Of fees to county officers. Ihat some means oe
adopted by which laws passed by the leGisla-
ture can be brought more speedily to the knowl-
edge of the people, either by publication in IL.
newspapers In each county, or III some other
way. That the insurance law be SO amended
that process against n com panY shall DC return
able In the county where the insurance policy Is
held; and that u thorough examination OF the
condition and assets or the companies doing
business in the territory be made. That the law
relating to the eXtraditiOn OF tugltlVes troIn JUS
tice be so amended as TO provide that the ex-
penses OF returning f~ugitiyes shall not be
paid by the territory, except in cases
of capital crimes and indictments for felony,
until the person so returned has been con-
victed under the criminal statute. He recon-
mends that no statute shall be repealed or
amended without setting forth in full the law
SO repealed or amended. He calls attention TO
the exemption law, and asks that the Law pro-
viding for the appointment OF officers OF pub 1c
institutions for different terms OF years b
amended so as TO make the term OF directors,
etc, etc, uniform for two wears. He recon-
meuds the appointment of a public examiners;
also the appointment of a commission to revise
and codity the law, and calls attention to the
act OF congress limiting territorial indebted
ness.
THE QUESTION OF ADMISSION.
The late election shows that Dakota has a
population considerably in excess of b II a mill
ion. The territory is filled with that most staid
and permanent Of ali classes, an agricultural
population. It expeuds two millions annually
for schools. 1t has expended more than $780,
600 In the erection of permanent buildings for
territorial institutions. IL has $500 miles OF
railway and ESQ newspapers, 1t has 1000 post
offices and pays S1OO,OOO annually into the post
office department alone. In all that goes
to make up a great commonwealth 1t
Is ahead OF q dozen OF the old states
of the Union. It maintains it's credit; 1t pays
its debts: 1t contributes thousands upon thou
sands TO the national treasury. It's people are
law-abidlng and GOd-tearing. No army is re-
quired to maintain public order. No police are
needed to protect citizens in the enjoyment of
their prosperity. Respectfully, her people have
petIt1oned for recognition by congress. Year
after wear they have seen that body meet and
adjourn without action. and this in the face Of
that ordinance declaring that when any terri
tory possesses $4,000 people 1t shall be
admitted into the sisterhood of states
/ do not doubt but that the blessings OF
statehood are magnitied as the disadvantages OF
a territorial condition are exaggerated. But that
does not matter; The people Of Dakota are en-
titled to admission. No one denies it: no one
questions IL. Upon what hypothesis or ground
of reasoning the application is denied, it ~ diff
cult TO conceive: on the ground OF policy it is a
blunder; on the ground OF craftsmanship it is
something worse. We have seer :Neople fighting
to get out OF the Union amid tn p~'otests Of the
national governments: it is a lovnl sight to see
100000 people struggling to get into the Union
without being needed or recogni2ed. The eX-
cuse sometimes heard that there is doubt rs TO
whether the people desire one state or two Is
not valid, Ii congress cares to know the
opinion Of Dakota, let an enabling act be passed
with a clause submitting this question to a
vote; all doubt will then be dispelled. At least
give her an opportunity to bs heard. / wish to
say in this connection and with all emphasis,
that the territory cannot accomplish her aim by
any extraordinary or ex~tra-judicial methods.
Let us disavow at once and forever all inten-
tion Of seeking such a remedy. Experience has
proved 1t difficult for a state to force its way
out Of the Union; 1t is even more difficult to
force a way in. take the responsibility Of say
ing that no such attempt will be made
by the consent Of the people of Dakota
They will not place themselves in the attitu de
Of law-breakerS or revolutionists. / stake my
reputation on their loyalty, on their patience
and on their forbearance. They love the union
of these states. Thousands Of them fought and
shed their blood for it's maihtainance, and they
recognize its paramount authority even when
that authority forbids their participation in
privileges which they have richly earned. But
all this does not alter or lessen the wrong. 1t
but makes 1t more glaring and fragrant. Moth
ing becomes q government or an individual
more than the prompt recognition Of rights
which. owing to circumstances cannot be
demanded and enforced The nation il
powerful; territories are helpless: they have no
ingenerate powers, They were created on the
supposition chat the nation would deal Justly
with them; they were left without redress be-
cause the fathers confided In the honor and good
faith OF those who were to succeed them. / beg
the men who represent the s~tatesmansip of this
country not to betray that trust. IL is not the
people of Dakota who will be the greatest suf-
ferers by reason OF this betrayal. 1t is the prin-
ciple OF representative government. Anindiyid-
ual may be wrongfully denied the elect
i've franchise without depriying him Of
the material pleasures Of life: he may
amass property. win friends. seek happi-
ness in a hundred ways. But that wrong, like
this, creeps into the body polite and testers
there. 1t becomes the precedent for other aud
greater wrongs. 1t degrades liberty, sports with
a solemn injunction OF the fathers, and sacrl-
fees those principles which are fternal to the
pitiful exigencies Of an hour. No party can
afford to do this. No people are strong enough
to trihe with a fundamental principle which
affects the rights and privileges Of half a
million OF their fellow citizens. We pro-
fess in this land TO want an honest
expression OF the people regarding public
measures and public men Can any statesman
honorably vote TO exclude Dakota, because, II
admitted, her vote will probably be cast in a
given direction7 Is that the end and aim OF
craftsmanship Have our great men accom-
plished their life mission when they have de-
priyed a few of their struggling fellow country
men OF political privilege because they differ
FROM them on the petty details ss government?
Ii that is SO, then politics and politicians
merit all the opprobrium heaped. upon them
/ speak here without one selfish thought:
/ utter this protest simply in behalf OF
the disfranchised thousands of. honest, indus
trious. law-abiding citizens OF this great terri
tory, whos so far as voice or influence In national
affairs are concerned, are as powerless and help
less astthe indian tribe shut In upon q neigh
boring reservation. The people must bear and
wait: but let rs hope that IL ever, imthe days to
! GOMEZ a representative or the 6tateof Dakota
shall raise his hand TO stay the admission OF a
territory similarly situated, the people, rcmem-
berirg their own great wrong lli ~rrlegate him
to eternal oblivion.
WORDS.
Gentlemen Of the general assembly, / have
tried to- give o faithful account Of nav official acts
during the two and q half years.I have had the
honor to preside over the affairs OF the territory.